The Mariya Suzuki Collection
by Allison Spector, Dean Moses, Shannon Barnsley
GENRE: Novellas, literary fiction, American Gothic, Humor/Magical realism, historical fiction
and folklore, sci-fi horror elements
Let's Stalk Rex Jupiter
by Allison Spector
Blurb:
Trouble's brewing in the Evergreen Jungle. When controversial author Rex Jupiter plans a visit to a Bellingham bookstore, news of his arrival attracts the attention of the mysterious Paladin, who plans on leading a mob of rioting housewives against him. But the Paladin has competition. Sleuth-extraordinaire Marian Krause has her own bone to pick with Jupiter as she scrambles to solve the death of a woman who has stolen her identity. Rex may think he has the situation under control, but when the wrath of the local Druids is incurred, pitchforks and torches may be the least of his concerns.
"Druid zealots, conservative Christians, busking jugglers, hipster baristas-every group, subgroup, and underground subgroup finds a home in a little town known as the City of Subdued Excitement. And while life in the Evergreen Jungle usually means butting heads with a variety of vegans, hippies and ladies' pinochle club-goers, there is one person that can bring them together: the most insufferable man in the Pacific Northwest. Using her sharpened wit, Spector invites readers into a world rife with scrumptious satire, slightly ruffled feathers, and utter madness."
-Elise Portale, Editor
A Stalled Ox
by Dean Moses
Blurb:
An isolated religious cult has reportedly been consuming meat while the rest of the planet has been forced to live a life without it. Presuming this sect has resorted to cannibalism, two agents from an organization known simply as The Agency are dispatched to investigate. Will they find evidence of humans eating one another? Or is something even stranger taking place?
"In the tradition of Serling and Bradbury, A Stalled Ox is a gruesome, yet beautiful story that wraps a complex morality tale in an engaging and fast-paced horror story with a touch of espionage. Crafting a world where no one is truly innocent, Moses invites the reader to follow Agent Howard Harrington as he discovers what true evil is."
-Shaunn Grulkowski, Editor
Beneath Blair Mountain
by Shannon Barnsley
Blurb:
All her life, Lara Rae Brecken has dreamed of the fey folk exiled beneath the earth. But in Logan County, West Virginia everything belongs to the coal company and the only world below is the mine. So Lara and her childhood friend, Barrow, escape to New York. But between the World War, factory fires, and the unforgiving streets, Lara wonders if she's traded one underworld for another. Spirited away to Boston by an Irish rebel, it seems her luck may have finally improved. That is, until she finds herself face to face with the fey folk one cold October night.
"Lara Rae Brecken, a young woman raised on the Irish fey stories passed down by her ancestors, dreams of the magic that lives just outside her normal perceptions. In bringing together tales from the homeland and life in an industrial society, Barnsley creates a layered world where the line between the harshness of reality and mythological impossibility is blurred. Written in a tone that is subtly haunting, the novella urges us to imagine that things are not always as they appear."
-Rebecca Johnson, Editor
EXCERPT:
A STALLED OX:
The figure stood before his flock with flowing hair, hanging beard, and tattooed body. Like a starfish, he spread his legs and arms far apart; his pointed fingernails sent the attention of the room skyward.
You see now there is no God above, don'?t you, my children?" His children nodded their heads and murmured in agreement. ?You see God before you, working to make your lives better. Outside this sanctuary, the rest of the world eats like rabbits; forced to partake in sickening diets. They fight over what is taught in their schools, evolution, or the words of false idols. They are governed by a secular government."
Praise the Lord," a woman shrieked.
The man on stage paused to take in the praise they gave him, before he continued his speech. ?But not in here. Here we eat what humans were meant to eat. Here we are taught the true word of God-my word. Here I govern my children, here I am the light that shows lost ships to shore. I am the harbor that gives them a home and I am the shipwright who tends to their wounds. Here you are safe, here you are cared for, and here you are home!"
The room erupted into applause.
Author Interview with
Dean Moses, author of A Stalled Ox:
What inspired you to write A Stalled Ox?
I can't say there was a specific book that made me declare, "That's it, I want to be a writer." It was more of an amalgamation of Edgar Allan Poe and F. Scott Fitzgerald's use of language in their books, the fantastic stories Rod Serling and Orson Welles told through their writing, and even the way Muhammad Ali would recite his poems. These people gave me great pleasure, and I would love to give someone else that pleasure as well.
When or at what age did you know you wanted to be a writer?
For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to tell stories, even before I could write. I started by telling tales through my toys. Then, when I was slightly older, I started to write stories set in the world of the video games I played. To answer your question, I don't think there was an exact time or age-I feel that it has always been in my very marrow, the path I was meant to take. Being a part of the Mariya Suzuki Collection with Allison Spector's Let's Stalk Rex Jupiter and Shannon Barnsley's Beneath Blair Mountain is a dream come true.
What is the earliest age you remember reading your first book?
In all honesty, I can't remember. It's just one of those things I can always remember enjoying.
What genre of books do you enjoy reading?
It's not so much the genre I enjoy, but the book itself. If it appeals to me, I will read it, regardless of the genre.
What is your favorite book?
The Great Gatsby
You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?
It's hard to particularly pinpoint a specific author that I would deem my all-time favorite, but I suppose I could say F. Scott Fitzgerald since The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books. I am captivated by the time and places in which it is set, and I'm in love with the way he told the story. In my opinion, almost every character plays an integral role.
If you could travel back in time here on earth to any place or time. Where would you go and why? I live in, and love, New York City; therefore I would like to experience 1930s Manhattan. To me, it would be fascinating to be around when the city started expanding to the sky. I would like to have seen the Empire State Building while it was under construction. Also, I would love the possibility of meeting the likes of Orson Welles and F. Scott Fitzgerald. When writing a book do you find that writing comes easy for you or is it a difficult task? It all depends on the time and specific situation, but I am usually able to get it down. The hard part is the editing. I frequently find myself revising and then revising some more. I always want my work to be perfect, however, nothing in life can be. Do you have any little fuzzy friends? Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets? Yes. I have two cats that keep me company during those long work nights. Their names are Bella and Bonnie. What is your "to die for", favorite food/foods to eat?
Do you have any advice for anyone that would like to be an author?
Never give up and keep learning. As a writer you will have a lot of people telling you that you won't make it, and a lot of rejections because the will make it. Just try and absorb as much as you can along the way, no matter how good you medium is subjective, but don't listen. If you want it enough and you keep working hard, you get there will always be more to learn.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Allison Spector (Let's Stalk Rex Jupiter!)
Allison Spector was born and raised in the hedonistic playground of the Jersey Shore, but finds herself oddly allergic to spray tan. She is a proud graduate of Goucher College, and started her environmentally-focused career in Washington DC in 2005. She moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2008, and fell in love with its beauty and people. Allison is currently on a Midwestern Adventure and is determined to live as much life as possible-to accomplish her dreams one at a time-and to nurture her loving family, and blaze a trail of wit, whimsy, and eccentricity wherever she goes.
Dean Moses (A Stalled Ox)
Dean Moses was born in England in February of 1991; however, he never truly felt at home, so at the age of nineteen he moved to New York City, where he hoped to fulfill two of his longtime dreams, marry the love of his life and become an author. For the past five years, he has written for newspapers, including the New York Amsterdam News and the Spring Creek Sun, as well as transcribed for the New York Times' Lens Blog. He has also written a serial story for the website JukePop Serials. He currently resides in Queens with his wife and two cats.
Shannon Barnsley (Beneath Blair Mountain)
Shannon Barnsley is a writer, poet, and folklore devotee from New Hampshire, currently living in Brooklyn. She holds a degree in Creative Writing/Mythology & Religion from Hampshire College. Since graduating she has been found giving tours at an 18th century Shaker village museum, translating English English into American English for a publishing company, and wandering in the woods.
Mariya Suzuki (the wonderful artist the collection is named after. She is designing our covers!)
Info from her website
Mariya Suzuki currently works as an illustrator in Tokyo, Japan. She was born in Nara and studied illustration in Long Beach, CA
Giveaway:
A copy of each of the 3 books in the collection.
